Humidifier



NOV. 7, 1944." F. FUR ON 2,362,001

HUMIDIFIER Original Filed July 14, 1941 fdmz 6.3 2W,%@M

dzrzeyr Patented Nov. 7, 1944 HUIWIDIFIER Francis A. Furlong, River Forest, 1112, assignor to Autogas Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application July 14, 1941, Serial- No. 402,287. Divided and this application February- 22, 1943, Serial No. 476,731

5 Claims.

This invention relates to humidifiers and more particularly to devices for producing water vapor for increasing the humidity of the air in living or like spaces.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a humidifier in which the water level is controlled by heated vapor and in which. a supply of vapor to operate the water level control is insured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a humidifier in which a substantially constant vapor pressure is maintained regardless of the rate of vapor generation.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a section of a humidifier embodying the invention.

The humidifier is of the same general type as those more particularly described and claimed in the co-pending applications of Furlong and Penfold, Serial No. 319,228, filed February 16, 1940, and PatentNo. 2,287,376. As shown in the drawing, the humidifier comprises atank having an enlarged upper portion In and a reduced lower portion 12, connected by a horizontal wall l4, and adapted to contain water above the wall [4 substantially at the level shown. Water in the tank is heated by heating means shown as comprising a gas burner l6,insulated from the reduced portion I2 of the tank and discharging heated vapor against the horizontal wall It. A heating jacket l8 conducts the vapor around one side of the tank to a flue pipe 20.

I6 through a pipe 22 controlled by a manual shut-off valve 24, and by a safety valve 26,normally urged closed by a spring and held open by a bi-metal strip 28 responsive to the heat of the burner. When the burner is in operation, the strip 28 will be deflected to open the valve 26, but if the burner should accidently be extinguished, the strip 28 will cool, allowing the valve 26 to close. Supply of gas through the pipe 22 may be controlled automatically as more fully described and' claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 402,287 filed July 14, 1941, now Patent No. 2,328,538, of which this application is a division to vary the rate of heat supply and consequently the rate of vapor generation.

Water is admitted to the tank through a pipe 30 discharging into a stand pipe 32 arranged beside the tank and communicating therewith at the bottom of the reduced lower portion I2. Outlet of water from the pipe 30 is controlled by a Gas is supplied to the burner.

bi-metal strip 34. which,.when cooled, closes the; end of the pipe 30; In order. to heat the strip. 34, an angle section of pipe 36 is extended from the stand pipe 32 into the tank and terminates in a downwardly facing end substantially at the desired water level. When the water drops below the open end of the pipe 36, vapor from the tank will flow through this pipe to heat the strip 34,

guides 42, normally seated on the upper end of the outlet pipe 38. If the pressure in the tank is below the value predetermined by the weight andsize of the disc 40, this disc will remain closed and all vapor generated will flow out through the pipe 36. As the vapor pressure increases, the

disc 4|] will be unseated to allow the flow of vapor through the outlet 38. Thepipe 38 may be made relatively large so the pressure in the tank will remain substantially constant regardless of the rate of vapor generation.

In order to prevent the accumulation of scale or shine in the tank such as to prevent or interfere with proper operation, the tank is adapted, to be drainedperiodically. This may be accom-- plished by means of a manually operated valve 44 connected to the lower end of the stand pipe- 32, but is preferably carried out automatically at:

predetermined time intervals by an ejector 46 communicating with the stand pipe 32 and the lower tank portion 12. The ejector discharges into a drain pipe 48 extending above the level of water in the tank a sufficient distance to prevent: accidental overflow so that water will flow therethrough only when the ejector is operated. The ejector receives water through a conduit 50 which communicates also with a spray nozzle 52 arranged in the upper part of the tank. A restricted orifice 54 limits the quantity of waterflowing to the spray nozzle and insures an adequate supply of water to operate the ejector. The supply of water to the spray nozzle and the ejector is controlled by a valve 56 operated by an electric motor 58. The motor 58 is preferably energized periodically for a predetermined time interval by a clock mechanism 60 controlling the It will be noted that when the valve 56 is opened and the ejector is operating, the water level will be reduced below the open end of the pipe 36. At the same time, however, the spray mechanism is spraying cold water into the tank so as to prevent the formation of vapor therein, thereby preventing opening of the thermostatic valve 34. To insure a minimum supply of water in the tank for starting of the water supply mechanism after a flushing and draining operation, a Wall 64 is provided adjacent one end of the horizontal bottom I 4 to hold a minimum supply of Water thereon.

While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims,

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 402,287 filed July 14, 1941, now matured into Patent No. 2,328,538.

What is claimed is: I

l. A humidifier comprising a tank adapted to contain water, heating means associated with said tank to vaporize the water therein, a pipe opening at one end in said tank and sealed by the water therein when it is above a predetermined level, the other end of the pipe opening outside of the tank at a point at substantially atmospheric pressure, means operated by flow of heated vapor through said pipe to control the admission of water to the tank to maintain the water therein at said predetermined level, a vapor outlet from the upper portion of the tank, and a valve normally closing said outlet and opening in response to a predetermined vapor pressure higher than atmospheric in the tank.

2. A humidifier comprising a tank adapted to contain water, heating means associated with said tank to vaporize the water therein, a pipe opening in said tank and sealed by the water therein when it is above a predetermined level, means operated by flow of heated vapor through said pipe to control the admission of water to the tank to maintain the water therein at said predetermined level, a vapor outlet from the upper portion of the tank, means to withdraw the water from the tank, and simultaneously to flush the tank to clean it and to prevent the formation of vapor, means to retain a predetermined minimum quantity of water in the tank, and means in said vapor outlet to create a predetermined resistance to flow of vapor therethrough to insure that vapor will fiow through said pipe when the Water is below said predetermined level.

3. A humidifier comprising a tank adapted to contain Water, heating means associated with said tank to vaporize the Water therein, means operated by heated vapor from the tank to control the admission of water thereto to maintain a predetermined level of water in the tank, a vapor outlet from the upper portion of the tank separate from the last named means and opening at a point at substantially atmospheric pressure, and a valve member normally closing the outlet and opening in response to a predetermined pressure in the tank .to maintain the pressure in the tank substantially constant and slightly above atmospheric pressure regardless of the rate of flow through the outlet.

4. A humidifier comprising a tank adapted to contain water, heating means associated with said tank to vaporize the Water therein, a conduit opening at one end in the tank and at its other end outside of the tank at a point at substantially atmospheric pressure, means operated by flow of heated vapor from the tank through the conduit to control the admission of water to the tank to maintain a predetermined level of waterin the tank, a vapor outlet from the upper portion of the tank separate from the last named means and opening at a point at substantially atmospheric pressure, vertical guides around the vapor outlet, and a valve member guided by said guides and urged by gravity toward a position closing the outlet,

5. A humidifier comprising a tank adapted to contain water, heating means associated with said tank to vaporize the water therein, means operated by fiow of heated vapor from the tank to atmosphere to control the admission of Water thereto to maintain a predetermined level of Water in the tank, a vapor outlet from the upper portion of the tank separate from the last named means, and a valve normally closing said outlet and opening in response to a predetermined vapor pressure higher than atmospheric in the tank to insure the flow of vapor through the means for maintaining a predetermined level of water in the tank.

FRANCIS A. FURLONG. 

